After several years of impressive success, Graham felt motivated to share the investing wisdom he had learned in his short time in finance. While he wanted to impart what he had learned in a book, he felt compelled to have some teaching experience under his belt. He applied to be a lecturer at Columbia University in 1928, marking the start of a 28-year career in academia.
Investment style
Graham's investment style was defensive. In his writings, he promotes capital preservation as a priority, with growth being almost secondary. This approach is likely a product of his era. He experienced two of the worst stock market crashes in history in 1907 and 1929.
Preferring stocks that today's investors would describe as high-quality, Graham liked balance sheets with good liquidity, tangible assets, and modest debt levels. He preferred big, mature companies over smaller, nimbler ones. He also favored stable earnings and consistent dividends.